ZERA values the sustainable impact of renewable energy resources within the country’s electricity access matrix. The Authority continues to take a leading role in promoting increased uptake and investment in renewable energy technologies. The vast array of renewable energy resources in
Zimbabwe that can be tapped into at various levels include solar photovoltaic, biomass (bagasse and forest waste), geothermal, large and small hydro power plants and wind.

 

 

Off Grid RE projects

A number of small hydro plants and off grid solar PV systems are operational in Zimbabwe and such small but high impact initiatives are encouraged as part of increasing access to modern energy in particular among rural communities whose terrain makes it difficult to connect to the grid in the immediate term.

The Authority is also guided by the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative that seeks to increase the global community’s access to modern energy by 2030.

ZERA is convinced that Zimbabwe will attain a 100% rate of access to modern energy by 2030 and that renewable energy will play a key role attainment of this vision.

Renewable Energy Policy

The Renewable Energy Policy sets  overall targets for renewable energy in the country based on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as one of its

primary objectives. These interventions align to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), demand-supply scenario, grid absorption capacity, and the ability of utilities to pay for renewable energy electricity.

The Policy aims to achieve an installed renewable energy capacity of 1,100 MW (excluding large hydro) or 16.5% of total electricity supply, whichever is higher, by  2025 and 2,100 MW or 26.5% of total electricity supply, whichever is higher by 2030.

Furthermore, the country shall install more than 250 000 solar geysers in old (as retrofits) and new buildings by  2030.

Alternative energy programs

Other additional alternative energy programmes include institutional and domestic biogas digesters, solar mini-grids and solar water pumping systems. These targets will enable the country to meet the current and projected energy supply deficit as well as meet the GHG emissions reduction objectives as per the NDCs submissions.